Home Security

ShadowFox

Ive been looking and getting my home more secure seeing as Garda stations are closing down totally or closing at 10pm in a lot of areas and as I plan to shelter in place if at all possible so here are a few things ive done

Alarm system: All windows doors and sheds I have powered my alarm system off of a solar panel and heavy duty backup battery

CCTV: I changed the peep hole viewer that was in my door and replaced it with a cctv camera (less than €30 on ebay very handy) can be viewed on the tv or if the power goes ive a 5" monitor and extra solar panel that i can power camera and monitor off of

Windows: Ive changed all the window handles to lockable ones

Doors: Ive put hinge bolts on my front and back doors and chubb locks on both

Side gate: I built a new one with marine ply and 3x2 as a frame

Back walls: now have razor wire on them and wireless cctv coverage (have to sort solar panels to power them )

SHTF: Ive marine ply cut and ready for all windows and doors inside and out and some steel bars to reinforce them
thats about it for the time being ive been looking at outdoor pirs to link to my alarm system but they are a little out of my price range at the moment so the rottie has to earn her keep

Cliona99

I'm jealous! I used to live alone in the middle of nowhere and I would have killed for a set-up like that!

ShadowFox

Cliona99 wrote: »

I'm jealous! I used to live alone in the middle of nowhere and I would have killed for a set-up like that!

I live in a housing estate in dublin with a young family thats why i made it secure for their sake

mawk

sounds like a great set up! good work!

bonniebede

Nice forward thinking.
I like the preparations for what might happen now, as opposed to only thinking about eotw situations.

Have you thought about window shutters? They can be a nice decorative feature without drawing too much attention and yet can provide another layer of protection.

bonniebede

Also a question, is it legal to top a wall with razor wire?

ShadowFox

bonniebede wrote: »

Nice forward thinking.
I like the preparations for what might happen now, as opposed to only thinking about eotw situations.

Have you thought about window shutters? They can be a nice decorative feature without drawing too much attention and yet can provide another layer of protection.

I've looked into them but a bit pricey for me at the moment

ShadowFox

bonniebede wrote: »

Also a question, is it legal to top a wall with razor wire?

I'm not sure but to be honest I don't really care id rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6

Stuck Cone

bonniebede wrote: »

Also a question, is it legal to top a wall with razor wire?

Not sure but i have broken glass shards on mine, im working on a secret self destruct system at the moment

Tabnabs

A very good thread and worthwhile subject. I have recently been reviewing our own house and doing a little research online. I found this site which has some interesting looking products to prevent entry into your house. Some very expensive (€1700 for a front door) and some DIY stuff for reasonable money

http://burglarybusters.ie/

(No connection etc. just found through Google)

ShadowFox

Years ago during the troubles up the north a big home security thing was a shop shutter in the attic that came down at the top of the stairs with a well cut out of the top step so it couldnt be forced open but i think if i did something like that the other half would have me committed

baords dyslexic

bonniebede wrote: »

Nice forward thinking.
I like the preparations for what might happen now, as opposed to only thinking about eotw situations.

Have you thought about window shutters? They can be a nice decorative feature without drawing too much attention and yet can provide another layer of protection.

If you have shutters on the outside then my first thought would be there must be something of value that you are hiding on the inside and I don't think I'd be the only person thinking that way. Same way as if you have an alarm box, if SHTF then it just elevates the house as a target.

Tabnabs

baords dyslexic wrote: »

If you have shutters on the outside then my first thought would be there must be something of value that you are hiding on the inside and I don't think I'd be the only person thinking that way. Same way as if you have an alarm box, if SHTF then it just elevates the house as a target.

Shutter are an unusual feature in Irish houses, but alarm boxes are in the majority so that's nothing exotic or noteworthy I would say.

Tabnabs

grapeape wrote: »

Years ago during the troubles up the north a big home security thing was a shop shutter in the attic that came down at the top of the stairs with a well cut out of the top step so it couldnt be forced open but i think if i did something like that the other half would have me committed

It's funny, I was tinkering around with some sketches recently to design a solid door/flap that would swing into place and close off the upstairs to intruders. Something I've used for anti-piracy on ships. Again, the mrs wouldn't take to kindly to something like that either :pac:

ShadowFox

baords dyslexic wrote: »

If you have shutters on the outside then my first thought would be there must be something of value that you are hiding on the inside and I don't think I'd be the only person thinking that way. Same way as if you have an alarm box, if SHTF then it just elevates the house as a target.

The shutters if i ever got them id put them inside not out for that reason the alarm box you can put it anywhere really front back side its up to you at the end of the day your paying for it so you get what you want

ShadowFox

Tabnabs wrote: »

It's funny, I was tinkering around with some sketches recently to design a solid door/flap that would swing into place and close off the upstairs to intruders. Something I've used for anti-piracy on ships. Again, the mrs wouldn't take to kindly to something like that either :pac:

Ive seen something like that and seen a lad get his face smashed in when the cord he had (should have used paracord:D) snapped at the wrong time

Tabnabs

Chord?! :eek: Large sliding bolt lock and STAND CLEAR!!

ShadowFox

Tabnabs wrote: »

Chord?! :eek: Large sliding bolt lock and STAND CLEAR!!

Yeah he was fitting the lock and other bits and had it tied back with cord we heard the bang and scream then seen him with a broken nose and teeth missing Any time im at his house i ask him why the hinges are in the ceiling I wont repeat his answer

Doc Ruby

bonniebede wrote: »

Also a question, is it legal to top a wall with razor wire?

I was advised not to when some local gurriers were throwing stones at the house window on and off years ago, for liability reasons. I put up some palisade fencing instead and some briar cuttings mysteriously found their way all along the bottom of it. Tasty berries and no further problems from the gougers, not exactly cheap though.

ShadowFox

Looking at the new WIFI CCTV cameras any one have any hands on experience with these

tootsy70

ShadowFox wrote: »

Looking at the new WIFI CCTV cameras any one have any hands on experience with these

Or does anyone know where i can get a few signs saying my house is protected by internet cctv 24/7. I think this will arise suspision from the scum

ShadowFox

tootsy70 wrote: »

Or does anyone know where i can get a few signs saying my house is protected by internet cctv 24/7. I think this will arise suspision from the scum

Ebay have the stickers

tootsy70

ShadowFox wrote: »

Ebay have the stickers

couldnt find any

aaakev

tootsy70 wrote: »

couldnt find any

Vistaprint.ie will make anything you want, cheap too

waterfordham

ShadowFox wrote: »

Looking at the new WIFI CCTV cameras any one have any hands on experience with these

I'm planning on getting two or three POE units from foscam.de, I borrowed one from a chap in work recently and was impressed with it. I caught the neighbours dog ****ting in my lawn with it too, he'd been denying it for years (the neighbour not the dog).

silentrust

waterfordham wrote: »

I'm planning on getting two or three POE units from foscam.de, I borrowed one from a chap in work recently and was impressed with it. I caught the neighbours dog ****ting in my lawn with it too, he'd been denying it for years (the neighbour not the dog).

Ok I don't have this but after my Mother and her partner's house was broken into a few years ago (they smashed the door in with brute force), he went a bit nuts on home security, to wit:

- An outside CCTV camera which detects movement and records it to one of those TV recorder devices with a hard drive in them.
- Reinforced steel door.
- A safe which is bolted to the floor but also in a hidden place so it won't attract attention of thieves.

We know it was kids who broke in as they took the Jack Daniels but left the Irish Whiskey -the philistines, we need a better class of criminal! :-)

The advantages of CCTV seem to be obvious in one sense but I'd never install one as it's only useful after the fact (believe me if house breakers were good at consequential thinking they wouldn't be criminals, often they want to steal for drug money and are desperate for a quick fix.)

:-)

ShadowFox

The old CCTV system was useful after the fact but the new wifi ones can be viewed on your smart phone /laptop anywhere in the world add a monitored alarm system or the wire free alarm that text you when activated and you can see if its a false alarm or who is breaking into your home and give the guards a detailed description of them and keep a look out for them as you make your way home

Danpad

I've lived on my street for nearly nine years. There has only been one attempted and one actual break in. Both of these were in the only house on the block that doesn't have a dog. My mates house was broken into a few years ago and the Gards actually caught the robbing little b***ix. They told my mate they found a notebook on him with addresses in and an X marked beside some of them. They then established that all the houses with an X had dogs!

ShadowFox

Danpad wrote: »

I've lived on my street for nearly nine years. There has only been one attempted and one actual break in. Both of these were in the only house on the block that doesn't have a dog. My mates house was broken into a few years ago and the Gards actually caught the robbing little b***ix. They told my mate they found a notebook on him with addresses in and an X marked beside some of them. They then established that all the houses with an X had dogs!

I heard in the uk they are marking the houses with symbols in chalk on the wall or pavement to tell who has what. Also talking to the local guards there seem to be gangs coming into the country hitting a load of houses then leaving again

silentrust

ShadowFox wrote: »

I heard in the uk they are marking the houses with symbols in chalk on the wall or pavement to tell who has what. Also talking to the local guards there seem to be gangs coming into the country hitting a load of houses then leaving again

How very Robin Hood like of them! But the most likely case scenario is an opportunistic crime according to the stats I saw on Home Office website last time, this is why good physical security is so paramount.

Very pleased to hear how much CCTV has come along. Might get it if I ever own anything worth nicking.

ShadowFox

silentrust wrote: »

How very Robin Hood like of them! But the most likely case scenario is an opportunistic crime according to the stats I saw on Home Office website last time, this is why good physical security is so paramount.

Very pleased to hear how much CCTV has come along. Might get it if I ever own anything worth nicking.

Dont know about the stats but the guards raided 4 houses in Dublin and recovered stolen property from all round the country some 200 break ins solved

silentrust

ShadowFox wrote: »

Dont know about the stats but the guards raided 4 houses in Dublin and recovered stolen property from all round the country some 200 break ins solved

Suppose we should be glad they caught them before they left.

ShadowFox

silentrust wrote: »

Suppose we should be glad they caught them before they left.

Thats the thing its different break in crews coming in storing all the goods then shipping them in trucks back to their countries they got the holders but not the break in crews

silentrust

ShadowFox wrote: »

Thats the thing its different break in crews coming in storing all the goods then shipping them in trucks back to their countries they got the holders but not the break in crews

You wonder why they bothered with using houses at all, why not just load the trucks directly? Perhaps they wanted to steal more stuff than a few trucks could hold.

ShadowFox

silentrust wrote: »

You wonder why they bothered with using houses at all, why not just load the trucks directly? Perhaps they wanted to steal more stuff than a few trucks could hold.

unfortunately there is a crew going around my general area at the moment 12 houses were done in the last week to 10 days

silentrust

ShadowFox wrote: »

unfortunately there is a crew going around my general area at the moment 12 houses were done in the last week to 10 days

My word, I didn't think there was much crime here in Ireland!

ShadowFox

silentrust wrote: »

My word, I didn't think there was much crime here in Ireland!

Just a bit lol give crime.ie a look he reports stuff the rest dont

Khannie

silentrust wrote: »

My word, I didn't think there was much crime here in Ireland!

Per-capita I think we're doing alright, though I'm open to correction.

aaakev

Khannie wrote: »

Per-capita I think we're doing alright, though I'm open to correction.

I think your right.

Dogs are the best protection against burglars, they just wont risk it when they can move to an easier target down the road!

Our cctv has come in very useful twice in the last few weeks. My tyre was slashed and so were alot of others in the estate before the slasher atole a bike and left the area. The guards were able to track him down and altho the cost of the tyre rested with me the culpret will be prosicuted. Again only last week my mas windscreen was smashed by a drunken prick, i recognised him from the video and called up to his house and got the money for the screen. I wouldnt write off cctv. Ours can be viewed remotely and combined with the monitered alarm its very useful!

vonbarracuda

Anyone recommend a CCTV camera. Just want something basic for outside my front door that will record on a drive

ShadowFox

vonbarracuda wrote: »

Anyone recommend a CCTV camera. Just want something basic for outside my front door that will record on a drive

If you want something covert i recommend the eye spy one that sits in your door looks like the normal peep hole

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Spy-Door-Peephole-Viewer-Security-CCTV-Camera-Colour-Wide-Angle-Lens-Low-Lux-/221237641152?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item3382ca7fc0#ht_3352wt_1271

silentrust

ShadowFox wrote: »

If you want something covert i recommend the eye spy one that sits in your door looks like the normal peep hole

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Spy-Door-Peephole-Viewer-Security-CCTV-Camera-Colour-Wide-Angle-Lens-Low-Lux-/221237641152?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item3382ca7fc0#ht_3352wt_1271

Good point, is it better to have something discrete or perhaps knowing you have it wards criminals off? I've never thought criminals were good at long term thinking but perhaps it might scare some of the brighter ones away?

vonbarracuda

How does that one record? Would I have to buy my own drive ?

silentrust

I wonder if any Feminists are following this thread - is installing CCTV in your own home "victim blaming" too I wonder? :-)

eirator

+1 on dogs, we are in one of those out of the way locations favored with sales visits by the travelling community, a local landowner even allowed them to grase their horses here for a while giving them a reason to come knocking; now that we have big dogs and gates they won't even risk opening the gates to drive down

While I'd wouldn't use overt CCTV it is quite funny watching peoples reactions to dummy cameras (the real camera boxes with nothing in them). A neighbor has built a new house and I can see the entrance from where I'm sitting, its a good walk/drive down to the house and you have to go around a sharp bend in the drive before you get to it. The side wall of this house facing the drive has a massive camera housing on the side of it the sort you see on motorways but you don't see the camera until you round the bend. So the house was empty during the winter, locally it would have been known it was empty and I'd watch locals going down the drive for a quick look at the new house only to round the bend see the camera housing facing them and turn around straight away. For a while it was Sunday afternoon event.

silentrust

eirator wrote: »

+1 on dogs, we are in one of those out of the way locations favored with sales visits by the travelling community, a local landowner even allowed them to grase their horses here for a while giving them a reason to come knocking; now that we have big dogs and gates they won't even risk opening the gates to drive down

While I'd wouldn't use overt CCTV it is quite funny watching peoples reactions to dummy cameras (the real camera boxes with nothing in them). A neighbor has built a new house and I can see the entrance from where I'm sitting, its a good walk/drive down to the house and you have to go around a sharp bend in the drive before you get to it. The side wall of this house facing the drive has a massive camera housing on the side of it the sort you see on motorways but you don't see the camera until you round the bend. So the house was empty during the winter, locally it would have been known it was empty and I'd watch locals going down the drive for a quick look at the new house only to round the bend see the camera housing facing them and turn around straight away. For a while it was Sunday afternoon event.

Tail firmly between their legs no doubt! :-D

I have yet to be graced with a visit from members of the Travelling community, what sort of stuff do they try to sell, fresh produce, that kind of thing?

Tabnabs

[mod] Please bring the thread back onto the topic of home security and let's not have a discussion on any people in a "nomadic" community...[/mod]

ShadowFox

vonbarracuda wrote: »

How does that one record? Would I have to buy my own drive ?

Yes you would have to buy a dvr or a dvd hard drive recorder or home pc and the extra cable for it to reach your tv

ShadowFox

eirator wrote: »

+1 on dogs, we are in one of those out of the way locations favored with sales visits by the travelling community, a local landowner even allowed them to grase their horses here for a while giving them a reason to come knocking; now that we have big dogs and gates they won't even risk opening the gates to drive down

While I'd wouldn't use overt CCTV it is quite funny watching peoples reactions to dummy cameras (the real camera boxes with nothing in them). A neighbor has built a new house and I can see the entrance from where I'm sitting, its a good walk/drive down to the house and you have to go around a sharp bend in the drive before you get to it. The side wall of this house facing the drive has a massive camera housing on the side of it the sort you see on motorways but you don't see the camera until you round the bend. So the house was empty during the winter, locally it would have been known it was empty and I'd watch locals going down the drive for a quick look at the new house only to round the bend see the camera housing facing them and turn around straight away. For a while it was Sunday afternoon event.

Cant beat dogs ive 3 at the moment 2 black lab crosses and a jack russel the overt cctv i use at the moment are like these http://www.ebay.ie/itm/48-LED-Illuminator-Light-CCTV-IR-Infrared-Night-Vision-Lamp-For-Security-Camera-/350709745925?pt=UK_CCTV&var=&hash=item51a7ee0905#ht_2158wt_1139
Ive one hidden behind a spot light at the side of the house looking at the front and 2 criss crossed at the back of the house so the whole back garden is covered I added wireless transmitters and receivers to them and have a dvr recording them Ive also put this type of cctv just behind the guttering of my parents and sisters houses and cant really be seen during the day but at night the 48 leds light up and is easy seen

ShadowFox

Need ideas seeing as we got the house renovated the war office is hounding me to get rid of the razor wire I put around the back walls of the house. So im in need of tried and tested ways to secure it that are more covert. Ive 3 dogs but most of the time they are indoors so would like something that will put anyone off even trying

aaakev

This might work.....